CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: UNCLE’S FIRST LOVE

"Xiao Yue, according to what you’re saying, the price of this house will surely increase in the future." Tang Mingli had previously lost confidence in the house due to a close call with a money scam.

Now, stirred by Tang Yue’s remarks, he became excited instantly.

"So, you see, Uncle, when you have money, invest in real estate. Think about it, you can live in it now, and it won’t be hard to sell later. What a smart move!" Tang Yue was earnestly persuading, and seeing Tang Mingli wavering, she felt relieved.

We must buy this house, otherwise, with the skyrocketing prices in the future, even if we can afford it, it still would be a loss!

The street stall business is getting better and better, and Tang Yue had saved up around US$ 100, given by Tang Mingli. It was not so much a distribution as it was just some spending money for her.

To Tang Yue, Uncle Tang Mingli was truly wonderful.

In school, Zhang Tingyu made determined efforts to court Tang Yue.

However, Tang Yue still reported to Tang Mingli every weekend during this time. During these weekends, Tang Zhengde and Zhang Hualian each visited her once, either bringing some vegetables or some money. Tang Yue gave Zhang Hualian US$ 20 and said, "Mom, the money for the surgery I had last time, please give it back to Granny soon."

"Keep your money for yourself, save it for your education later," Zhang Hualian refused to take the money.

Tang Yue asked, "Mom, have you repaid the money?"

"Yes," Zhang Hualian nodded and said, "Don’t worry about the family finances, just focus on your studies. Look at you, you’ve lost weight."

Zhang Hualian looked at her daughter with pity. Her daughter studied from Monday to Friday and worked endlessly at Tang Mingli’s place over the weekends. As a mother, it was heartbreaking to watch.

Especially during the busy times, Tang Yue barely even had a moment to drink water. Though the money was good, it came with hard labor.

"Mom, just take good care of yourselves. It’s better to be thin, being too fat isn’t good looking," Tang Yue grinned and didn’t refuse the money, thinking of discussing business in the county with her parents during the New Year.

That Saturday, Tang Yue went to the stall to find Tang Mingli, but discovered that Tang Mingli hadn’t set up his stall yet.

Huh, Uncle usually has his stall out by now.

Why isn’t he here today?

Tang Yue walked towards Tang Mingli’s residence, still the same old small bungalow—a tiny yard, one room, a small living room, a tiny kitchen, separated by a wall from the neighbor’s house.

"The door isn’t closed."

Tang Yue muttered, seeing the door wide open and walked boldly forward. Just as she reached the entrance, she faintly saw in the courtyard, her uncle sitting with a very fashionable girl.

Tang Yue quickly retreated, and eavesdropped from around the corner.

"Tang Mingli, you live in a place like this?" Qi Yufei stood in the courtyard, her beautiful eyes surveying the shabby yard with disdain. Today, she happened to take a shortcut here because she was in a hurry to visit her grandmother.

She just happened to run into Tang Mingli coming out from the yard.

"This is rented." Tang Mingli hung his head low. He was wearing a shirt and trousers, and his worn old leather shoes looked aged from the many years he had worn them.

Even without a mirror, he was very aware that standing in front of the radiant Qi Yufei, he looked just like a worthless pauper.

"So many years after graduation, you can’t even afford a house?" Qi Yufei’s words were undisguised in their contempt. She crossed her arms, standing straight as she spoke. "Tang Mingli, I’m glad I didn’t believe your promises back then. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have time to cry, squeezed into a chicken coop-like house with you."

"..." Tang Mingli took a deep breath, facing his first love’s disdain, and thought about his once ambitious dreams, which now seemed like a joke.

After graduation, he was willing to do anything, as long as it paid, just hoping to make something of himself quickly and to be able to hold his head up high.

Tang Yue initially thought it was a melodramatic scene of first loves reuniting, but as she listened, she lost all good impressions of the girl.

Angrily, Tang Yue walked in. At that moment, she took a serious look at the woman in front of her; full of pride, exuding fashion inside and out. Even her long hair was styled into fashionable curls. Her skin was naturally fair, and with her dyed blonde hair, she was strikingly pretty.

It’s no wonder she had the capital to be arrogant; by modern standards, she looked great, even her clothes were quite fashionable.

"You made your biggest mistake by not choosing my uncle," Tang Yue boldly defended Tang Mingli, even though her uncle looked a bit shabby now, she was sure he would be beyond her reach in a few years.

"Who are you?" Qi Yufei scorned at Tang Yue, displeased by her youthful beauty, she retorted, "What, am I supposed to live with him in this kind of place?"

Qi Yufei’s words were laden with disdain.

"You weren’t invited here, so just leave, you’re not welcome here," Tang Yue briskly pushed her out the door.

Qi Yufei was both angry and infuriated, saying, "Don’t get my clothes dirty. Can you even afford to pay for them?"

"Who cares," Tang Yue snapped, "I wish I could just tear her clothes off, are they something extraordinary? She won’t be able to afford such clothes in the future!"

Such a waste of a pretty face.

Tang Yue turned around furiously, and saw Tang Mingli’s complicated expression.

"Uncle, don’t listen to her, we will make loads of money in the future, and she won’t be able to match us," Tang Yue consoled him. Previously, Granny Tang kept urging her uncle to marry, but he always refused, shutting down at the mere mention of marriage.

Before, she didn’t understand why, but now seeing this woman, it was clear.

"Xiao Yue, sorry you had to see that," Tang Mingli managed a smile more pained than crying.

Unable to help it, Tang Yue’s mouth twitched, "Uncle, you better not smile, it looks even worse."

"Tang Yue, are you really my niece?" Tang Mingli said through clenched teeth.

"No," Tang Yue replied without a second thought.

"..."

"Never mind, I’m going to the stall," Tang Mingli decided not to get angry with her, otherwise, he might just die of rage.

"Uncle, who is that woman? Your first love?" Tang Yue curiously continued to assist him.

With a long sigh, Tang Mingli seemed to have no reason to hide it any longer, so he began to recount what had happened.

Upon hearing it, Tang Yue could only feel how melodramatic it all was. Perhaps Qi Yufei was initially attracted just by my uncle’s handsome, sunny face?

After high school, Qi Yufei broke up with him despite his pleas. Even though uncle glossed over it lightly, from the conversation she had just heard, it was clear he must have truly loved that woman.

But who knew such a woman could be so hateful.

"Uncle, don’t get angry over a woman like that. After graduating, she just married some rich man’s son, who knows, they might have already been involved before," Tang Yue said heatedly.